August 5, 2023 “Gran Turismo” (**1/2 out of four) was an inspirational true story based on the PlayStation videogame series about determined race-car driver Jann Mardenborough (Archie Madekwe) who teamed up with a failed former driver (David Harbour) and an idealistic motorsport executive (Orlando Bloom) to compete in the world-class title event and shocked the world by becoming underdog champions! Film is reverently done and overall well-told and well-acted but somehow is never as fiery or exciting as it should be. Film also pales somewhat in comparison to 2013’s “Rush” which it sometimes resembles in scope and style. The real Jann Mardenborough is a stunt double here in the film. Continue reading →
August 5, 2023 “Meg 2: The Trench” (** out of four) was a scattershot sequel to the surprise 2018 hit about a deep-sea diving team (led by Jason Statham) who encounter problems with a nearby malevolent mining corporation that awakens the title monster and soon there is blood in them thar waters again. In fairness, this is all overall better and more entertaining than the original but seems made up of spare parts from “Jaws 3”, “Deep Blue Sea”, and Statham action movies and stirred in a blender. Final third at least delivers some campy B-movie thrills and scares. Continue reading →
August 5, 2023 “Poor Herman” (* out of four) was a poorly made horror comedy about four friends (Sara Alavi, Punjamean Martin, Fantasia Chattman, Maritza Arenas) who go to a Halloween costume party where they are (yawn) besieged by a deranged killer (Deonitus Phoenix Black) and have to fight to survive. Strains to be hip and stylish but just comes off as low-rent and vulgar not to mention stupid. Co-star Martin also wrote and directed; even at barely over an hour long, this is still pretty rough going. Continue reading →
August 4, 2023 “Holistay” (* out of four) was an inept horror timewaster about two couples (Erin Gavin, Gavin O’Fearraigh, Gabriela Kulaif, Steven Martini) who accidentally double-book a guest house in San Diego and find that strange occurrences and paranormal activity start happening causing them to turn on each other and question their sanity and safety. Strictly amateur night in terms of cinematics and acting. Writer/director Mary Patel-Gallagher has a bit part as a house worker. Continue reading →
August 3, 2023 “I Am Rage” (*1/2 out of four) was sub-routine potboiler about an ancient and vindictive cult embroiled in a violent blood trade who make the mistake of abducting a young woman (Hannaj Bang Bendz) who (yawn) turns the tables on them and turns out to be even more vicious and destructive than they are. One more re-hash of “I Spit On Your Grave” and also “Death Wish” that the world didn’t need; don’t filmmakers get tired of re-telling this same story again and again? Pretty location scenery in Scotland gives film it’s only distinction. Continue reading →
August 3, 2023 “The River Wild” (*1/2 out of four) was an inferior in-name-only remake of the 1994 “classic” about a pair of distrustful siblings (Leighton Meester and Taram Killam) who go on a white-water rafting trip with a group of childhood friends, one of whom (Adam Brody) turns out to be a treacherous psycho who makes this into a very long and dangerous expedition. Film takes forever to get going and covers all-too-familiar terrain once it does; there was more nuance and character development and fierce action in the original even though that had weaknesses of its own. Meester is solid in the lead but obviously won’t make anyone forget Meryl Streep. Continue reading →
August 1, 2023 “Assault On Hill 400” (*1/2 out of four) was a lumbering historical WWII drama about a group of misfit American soldiers and lieutenants (William Baldwin, Michael Madsen, Eric Roberts, Collin Arend, and others) who are tasked with overtaking Hill 400 which was the Reich’s highest ground for artillery and death. Pretty standard and basic war drama without much human dimension or visceral excitement; of interest to war-film completists only. Good character actors Madsen and Baldwin and Roberts are wasted in minor roles. Continue reading →
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